5 Themes of geography

What are the five themes?

Tools geographer ’ s use to study features on earth.

– Location – Place – Movement – Region – Human Environment Interaction

Location

Describes where places are at on earth.

Types of Location: – ABSOLUTE: exact location on earth (fixed) • Doesn ’ t change – Latitude/Longitude – Hemispheres – Grid System – Address – RELATIVE: compared to other places (variable) • Changes dependent upon where you ’ re comparing it to . – Miles – Distance – Direction

Absolute Location

Examples: – Rome is located at 41 N, 12 E – Argentina is located in the southern hemisphere.

– Leland is located in San Jose, CA.

Relative Location

Examples: – Rome is located near the Mediterranean Sea.

– Argentina is near Brazil.

– Ecuador is south of Mexico.

– San Jose is 50 miles from San Francisco.

Place

A place is defined by it ’ s unique characteristics.

– Physical characteristics – Human characteristics

Physical Characteristics

Specific to THAT place, not generic.

– The way a place physically looks.

Created by nature.

– Mountains – Rivers, Lakes, Seas – Climate – Vegetation Examples: – Andes Mountains are in South America.

– Amazon River flows through Brazil.

– Pampas are located in Argentina.

– The isthmus of Panama connects Central & South America.

Human Characteristics

Specific to THAT place, not generic.

– Peoples activities change the way a place looks or is represented.

Man-made or invented .

– Language – Unique buildings – Religious Practices – Celebrations/traditions/holidays Examples : – Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.

– Many Mexicans are Catholic.

– Mayan ruins are located in Mexico.

Movement

3 categories of movement.

– Movement of tangible products – clothing, shoes, furniture, etc, etc – This movement occurs through trains, airplanes, ships, trucks, cars, etc.

– Movement of data – pictures, articles, video, etc – This movement occurs through the internet or skype, etc – Movement of people - Immigration Examples – Immigration from Latin America to US.

– War in Iraq (troops, supplies, ideas, people) – Twitter, Facebook (ideas)

Movement

Places change or are developed by Movement of land.

– Plate Tectonic forces • Physical distinctiveness Examples – Hawaiian Islands, Rocky Mts, Grand Canyon

Region

The world is divided into different regions based upon similarities & differences.

– Climate – Location – Beliefs – Languages – Ethnicity/Race Types: – Formal – Functional – Perceptual

Formal Region

Most common/familiar.

Determined by the distribution of a uniform characteristic (physical or cultural) – Location – Climate – Religion Examples – Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama) – Latin America (spanish-speaking nations) – Tropics (countries located near equator)

Functional Region

Serves a purpose that affects places around it . – Distributes goods/people – Serves specific purpose Examples : – Panama Canal – Amazon River Basin – Hollywood – Silicon Valley

Formal & Functional Regions

The state of Iowa is example of a formal region; the areas of influence of various television stations are examples of functional regions.

Perceptual Region

c) Perceptual Region, or vernacular region, is a place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity.

Perceptual Regions

A number of features are often used to define the South as a vernacular region, each of which identifies somewhat different boundaries.

Perceptual Region

Groups of areas that provoke a certain stereotype or feeling.

Examples: – The Bronx – The “ ghetto ” – China town

THE USA how “ Others ” see us

HEI

The environment & people are interconnected.

Interaction can cause 3 types of changes 1. permanent change. 2 temporary change 3. no change Consequences to those actions depend upon how people choose to interact with the world and use their resources.

– Positive/Negative – Intentional/Accidental – Favorable/Destructive

HEI

Current Environmental Issues: – Global Climate Change – Energy Resources – Water Conservation – Deforestation

Assignment

Can you apply the 5 themes to any story?

Ecuador Wow reading